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Posted October 10th, 2016 at 9:14 am by George & Julia Harris in General Birding

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My first Wheatear of the year on the seaward side of the road down to the quarry. 1 Rock Pipit. Large numbers of Gannet, Guillemot and Shag fishing around the headland. Fulmar nesting. 3 Harbour Porpoises. 1 singing Wren nest building. 1 Song Thrush by the car park.

From 6pm this evening until roughly 7.40pm 26 egrets gathered on the eastern mudflats opposite my house. There were 19 Little Egret and 7 Cattle Egret by the time they all flew to roost in trees on the west side of the Torridge. The Cattle Egret were far more active in the reeds at the back of the mudflat whereas the Little Egrets were content to sit around and preen. I would think that these Cattle Egret were the 'Magnificent Seven' from Fremington but if anyone saw Cattle Egret at Fremington during this time then we have to rethink our Taw/Torridge totals. Meanwhile my bedroom window list seems to grow and grow!

19 Cattle Egrets this morning between Cousins Cross and Chivlestone Cross on the East Prawle road nr. Chivlestone, Grid Ref SX 785394. They were in the field below the turbine. There were 6 or 7 Fresian Cattle here but the egrets were feeding in the grass away from them. The field has probably been spared the dreaded pesticides ( for now at least ) and must have plenty of food for them.

Nearby at Beesands an early Sedge Warbler singing from the left of the hide, also a couple Willow Warblers and a male Shoveler. At Slapton Ley still a male Wigeon in Ireland Bay. Swallow and 4 Sand Martins at Torcross. Seen a few Small Tortoishells and Peacocks today, also a Brimstone at Slapton in Ireland Bay Quarry.

A birding trip around the Torbay coast this morning was almost devoid of bird life other than Gulls and Cormorants.

A very distant drake Eider in full breeding plumage seen from Broadsands and the only other bird of note was a Willow Warbler in the white thorn/willow stand by the path leading up to the gate towards Elberry.

The Glossy Ibis, seven Cattle Egrets and 15 Little Egrets were foraging in fields south of Tarka trail opposite Isley Marsh at 09:00. The Cattle Egrets later appeared in the saltmarsh and three Spoonbills dropped in briefly during the afternoon. On the Taw Estuary a female Eider.

Best of the summer migrants was an Osprey that flew west towards Appledore at 13:15 before turning back and drifting high northeast 25 minutes later. Also noted were two Wheatears, three Willow Warblers, 10+ Swallows and 50+ Sand Martins.

Maybe 150 - 200 Sand Martins over the pond this evening, and at about 7.10p.m. the three subadult Spoonbills flew in, circled and landed out of sight in a dip in the field about 400m south of the scrape.

In the reserve this morning the first singing Willow Warbler, and a few Chiffs,

At South Huish marsh this afternoon, the juv Iceland Gull flew in off the sea at 2.20pm and flew off at 3.30pm. Also Water Pipit, 3 White Wagtails, Sand Martin, Swallow, 5 Common Scoters, 2nd-s Mediterranean Gull and Grey Seal.

A Sedge Warbler was singing in the Southdown side of the reeds this morning, also the Cetti's Warbler was singing and quite mobil and a Willow Warbler was singing half way down the track leading to the hide. There were 4 Blackcaps singing around the marsh and plenty of Chiffchaffs around also. On the marsh were 2 pairs of Tufted Duck and a single male, 5 pairs of Gadwalls, 6 Canada Geese and a juvenile Mute Swan. A Sandwich Tern flew along the coast and around the bay.

Short visit to Fremington Quay & ajoining pil this afternoon - single Glossy Ibis feeding with 50+ Black-tailed Godwits at low tide in the pil. Group of 7 Cattle Egrets roosting in the trees where the Little Egrets usually roost at the top of the pil

A few Sand Martins over and around the pond this morning along with singing Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler. Not much in the reserve, a few singing Chiffs.

This evening at Wrafton Pond (around 7p.m.) Hundreds of Sand Martins, a couple of Swallows and still a couple of Chiffs singing. Out on the scrape were 7 Black-tailed Godwits, and in the field about 100 yards south of the scrape were 3 subadult Spoonbills. Also, and unusual here, were 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

No sign of Terry Goddard's Garganey during my visit to South Huish Marsh 11.30 - 1315 today. However at 11.30 am, what I believe to be an Iceland Gull, from the attached cropped photo, flew in and was there until I left for lunch. No sign of it when I returned about 1500hrs.

Highlights today were a Yellow-browed Warbler and my first Willow Warbler of the year, both at Coypool near Weigbridge Cottage. Also - Dipper, 5 Greenshanks, 15 Turnstones, 4 Chiffchaffs, a pair of Mandarin Ducks and Green Woodpecker.

Attached side view of head does not show vertical pupil of adder or yellow collar of grass snake. However (with a little help from photoshop),one photo just about shows the zigzag of adder, so sticking with that, but happy to be corrected.

A hazard while looking for Great Grey Shrike - a more typical colouration. It is very unusual to see a dark phase V. berus without any evidence of the zig-zag pattern. Grasssnake also have dark unmarked specimens. Any close-up of the eye?

Tuesday 28th March 2017

Still at least 20 redwings around the Woodland area, just south of Ashburton. Last year they stayed until April1st. Two fieldfares last seen on Sunday, 26 March. Hopefully not the last sighting for this year.

The Great Grey Shrike on the ridge to the north east of Woodbury Castle - very active including hovering Kestrel style whilst hunting. A Red Kite drifted east at 11.20.

At Dawlish Warren, the Jack Snipe was showing well 4.15 to 4.35 - note it could not be seen from the usual place (opposite the boats) as it had moved to the nearside of the pond but could be seen very clearly from the next vantage point looking back along the left side of the main pond.

Today was my first ever visit to Bowling green marsh. I will definitely be going back. I had a number of first sightings for my records which included..Little Gull, Bonaparte's Gull and Green Sandpiper. Also good views from the hide of...Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Tuffed Duck, Shoveler, Black Tailed Godwit, Snipe, Grey Heron, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Mallard and Curlew.

A pleasant stroll around the southern part of the marshes this morning coincided with high water in the estuary so quite a few waders on the fields including 100+ black-tailed godwit, c60 dunlin and c100 curlew. A imm. marsh harrier had a similar plumage to the bird that was present in mid winter and it was using exactly the same perches so probably the same bird. Some shelduck had moved back onto the estuary before I started to count the flock, however there were over 70 still roosting. A scattering of chiffchaffs (5 singing) and sand martins (c20). Duck numbers continue to fall with small numbers of wigeon, shoveller, teal and pintail (only 6) remaining. And a greenshank flew over.

Monday 27th March 2017

Marsh Harrier, lots of Lapwing displaying, a drake Red Breasted Merganser in the channel to the lock gates at the Turf, c 30 hirundines over the reserve - I believe mostly House Martin, but I couldn't be 100%.

A Red Kite drifted northwards over Powderham Marshes at 3pm. At 4pm I saw a 'yellow-headed' Marsh Harrier disturbwaders and ducks on Exminster Marshes. Several singing Chiffchaffs. Earlier, at Dawlish Warreen I saw the Jack Snipe 'bobbing' , together with a Common Snipe, and saw Sand Crocuses and Sand Lizards (being monitored by someone working for the sea defence building company) 6 plus Peacock and 1 Speckled Wood butterflies.

30 members of DB attended this morning's walk and I listed 35 species in total. The main interest came from trying to sight the Jack Snipe which was well hidden. A pair of Cirl Bunting were more obliging and an unexpected find near the visitor centre. A number of singing Chiffchaff and Greenfinch were present plus a fine Song Thrush. Due to the low tide we decided not to proceed beyond the end of the golf links where a passing Sparrow Hawk flew along the (Bight) beach. At a distance the pair of Slavonian Grebes was seen close to Cockwood (better seen from the railway crossing point). Two Skylarks were seen and several Stonechat and Linnets present. Someone reported seeing an Eider offshore and 6 Brent Geese were on the sea, otherwise there were few sea birds and a number of expected species (Wheatear and Swallow) were missing from the land side. On the return walk the Jack Snipe was seen again, this time in company with a Common Snipe.

Later, on driving through the road works at Bridge Road, Countess Wear a Red-legged Partridge flew over the road towards King George playing fields but having got to the other side it decided not to stay and flew back into the housing estate.

Spent a bit of time down at Wrafton pond this afternoon (approx. 1pm).On the way out, and turning towards Barnstaple on the Tarka trail, a stoat streaked across the path in front of me and into the brambles opposite.

A walk on Dartmoor to soussons plantation netted meadow pippet, buzzard, swallow yes swallow single bird making fast passages over the open moorland. Probable Marlin. Carrion crow, great tits. Common crossbills. Cmmn gull not much else due to the blustery conditions. The male crossbill showed well allowing me to get within 30 feet or so before being disturbed by a dog walker not on a lead! Image to follow

First of the long evenings allowing later viewing: On the scrape by the Tarka Trail were 3 Little Ringed Plovers. In the reserve a couple of Chiffs singing. Sherpa Marsh was alive with 37 Mute Swans, mostly last year's young. Back to Wrafton Pond where about 200 Sand Martins were feeding quite high, and in amongst was at least 1 Swallow. No further sign of the Plovers.

Saturday 25th March 2017

Travelling back from Fremington to Barnstaple on the bus around 9:45 tonight the driver stopped the bus and asked me (he knows me) to come and have a look at a bird that had flown into the front of the bus and was caught in the wipers. It was a tawny owl looking very groggy but otherwise apparently unharmed. We left it on the grass verge by the bus stop near Taw Meadow Crescent. Lovely bird, hope it's OK.

After getting our first 2 wood pigeon in our rural garden since moving here in July 2015 we had a Stock Dove this morning. Pays to look at every bird carefully. Not that exciting for most people but great for the BTO GBW Survey.

Posted March 25th at 7:56 pm by John & Karen Towers & Sims in General Birding

Well it turns out that Osprey beat Swallow by 6 hours - finally saw one this afternoon over the reserve with a good number of Sand Martins in the lovely sunshine. Pity about the strong wind though! Also of note were Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit nest-building. The three Canada Geese in the reserve yesterday ALL had rings on - Ma and Pa and one of the young from last year?

Not been home long when I got a call from a friend saying 'boys' were breaking into the reserve! I went back and called the police. They have found the perpetrators and spoken to them. I will keep you informed of developments.

Morte Point 0800-01100. (My first) 1 Swallow made one pass over the Point flying E. 2 Wheatears, 2 Rock Pipits, 8 Linnets, 2 Stonechat on the Point with 1 Fulmar, 1 LBbG, 1 Shag and several GBbG enjoying the strong E wind off the Point. 50+ Meadow flying E in small flocks between 0700-0800.17 other species present.

Good views of Jack Snipe on the pond, which is attracting quite a few birders. Also of note a male Wheatear, a single Egyptian Goose overhead towards Cockwood and a single Swallow overhead towards golf course. Many Linnets, Skylark, a few Chiffys and some Reed Buntings. Species total count was 36. Only had phone so digiscoped pictures.

A male CirlBunting singing late morning in middle of lower slope, then moving up the headland and seen again by top gate, is possibly just the second site record . Also a male Wheatear on Sandy Point. Chiffchaff and Blackcap both singing

Just heading out when all the Gulls started kicking off and there, much to my surprise, as an Osprey heading north. Sue Bruce has just phoned to say she saw it over her house too! Don't think I've ever seen Osprey before Swallow before....

So it took a whole month to find time to get to Slapton & I knew the conditions were very average and as I expected no sign of Humpback. However 3 Porpoises, 1 GN Diver, 1 Sandwich Tern, 30 Sand Martin & Russ had seen a Wheatear & an Otter.

Around midday at Berry Head, at least 6 Gannet's feeding close to the second fort, a few Guillemots flying but not that many due to the high winds & rough seas - A Reed Bunting showed for a few seconds by the bridge at the far end of the ley - at least 4 Cetti's Warblers heard but only seen for a quick fly by

1Whimbrel with 30 Curlews in field south of the River Kenn, Powderham late afternoon . Also in the park 2 Pintail, 2 Greylag Geese, 4 Stock Doves and c12 Sand Martins over the River Kenn. No sign of the Cattle Egrets in a brief search.

On the Humpback Whale's one month anniversary of being in Lyme Bay (mostly Start Bay), things took a turn for the worse when the animal was reported to be tangled in static pot gear (one of the ropes leading to the pick up buoys) off Blackpool Sands, from around 10:00. The fishing boat Maverick stayed with the whale until help arrived from the British Divers Marinelife Rescue with the RNLI. After several attempts they finally managed to cut the rope wrapped around the whale at c17:20, which appeared to swim off fast and free. Fantastic work by these two great charities.

1 Cattle Egret on the marsh loosely associating with 4 Little Egrets, also 1 Black-tailed Godwit, both present all afternoon. On the estuary 1 Sandwich Tern hunting down stream of Saltstone at 16:10, then on buoy between Lincombe and Saltstone at 16:30.

Plenty of water in the marsh, several Moorhens, usual range of waterfowl and calling Water Rail, probably 2.